Pectoral, ~ AD 500 -1500 ·  Colombie, Quimbaya · ID: 3041249

Description

gold sheet, weight: 51 g, hammered, in shape of double stylized bird, small breakage, base;
around 1500 B. C., gold became the preferred material for fashioning personal adornments. The composite creature format was developed by artists throughout the ancient Americas to portray the non-portrayable - the shaman transformed into his/her spirit form. As such, all golden adornments would have been potent totemic icons for a family or social group, intimating the member’ s special powers.

Remarques

This object is subject to the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Protection Act. Export documents are required for export (subjected to a fee).